Russian missile strikes cut power to hundreds of thousands of households across four regions in Ukraine on Sunday, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as the conflict between the two countries continued despite localized ceasefires. Concurrently, Russian officials reported significant damage to an industrial facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region following Ukrainian drone attacks.
Zelensky stated that Russian forces targeted critical power infrastructure overnight, leading to widespread electricity outages. He noted the high intensity of these strikes and suggested that Russia aims to exploit Ukraine's limited missile defense capabilities. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported conducting an airstrike on the Kamensky plant in Russia’s Rostov region, which Zelensky identified as a site involved in missile production. Moscow did not immediately comment on the Rostov attack.
In Nizhny Novgorod, Governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed that a large-scale drone strike caused substantial damage to an unspecified industrial facility. While the exact location was not disclosed, regional authorities indicated they were taking measures to maintain fuel supply to gas stations and advised residents against panic buying, implying the facility’s role in fuel processing or supply. This region is home to the NORSI oil refinery, one of Russia’s major refining sites. Kyiv did not claim responsibility for the drone attack on this facility.
The ongoing hostilities persisted despite a six-day local ceasefire that ended Sunday around Oleshky, a town under Russian control in southern Ukraine. Fighting and air attacks continued along other parts of the front line. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, its forces intercepted 235 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 371 of 433 long-range drones launched by Russia since Saturday evening and noted multiple drone alerts in Kyiv alone during the early hours of Sunday.
The attacks come amid broader tensions over energy infrastructure amid the conflict. Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting its oil refineries, including renewed strikes reported on Friday. Ukrainian officials have expressed support for a full ceasefire on energy-related targets, including their own damaged power grid, but maintain that Russia has been unwilling to agree to such terms. The energy strikes have also drawn international attention, with reports that US President Donald Trump had requested Kyiv halt attacks on Russian fuel supplies due to rising diesel prices ahead of upcoming US midterm elections.
The situation illustrates continued escalation and mutual targeting of critical infrastructure by both sides as the conflict extends into its tenth year, with civilians on both sides continuing to face disruptions in essential services.